News

A slim figure slipped into the room quietly as not to disturb the man behind the desk too much with his entry.  The news he carried was bad enough, upsetting this man with a noisy entrance could make life even more miserable.  He slowly crossed the space between the door and the ornately carved and gilded darkwood desk.  He stood there a moment waiting for the man to put down the quill he was writing with, then politely cleared his throat when it appeared he hadn't been noticed.

"I heard you come in Cedric" said the man behind the desk.

"Yes, well." stammered the messenger. "I have news, mixed tidings that is m'Lord"

Cedric shifted uncomfortably and waited.

"Am I going to have to drag it out of you?" said the seated man not looking up from the parchment, anger creeping into his tone.

"Does m'Lord prefer the good tidings first," answered Cedric quickly "or the ba..."

"Seriously Cedric!  Do I look like I have time for games?"  He'd put down his quill and was now staring at the messenger.

"Whitehearth Sir!" Cedric replied averting his eyes to the richly carpeted floor.  "It's been located sir.  Whitehearth's been found"

The mans left eyebrow shot up. "Where?"

"The Mournlands sir"

His expression went from curiosity to vexation. "Cedric you are seriously trying my patience.  Of course the Mournlands.  WHERE in the Mournlands specifically?"

"About 35 miles east-north-east of the hamlet of Olkhaan, at the base of a hill.  I've not yet had time to draw up a proper map, but could have one in your hands before sundown."

"Yes, we'll need one."  The man stood up and moved from behind the desk to look out a window that overlooked the Dagger river over a mile below. "We've been looking for Whitehearth for the better part of 4 years now.  How was it found?"

"M'Lord, the Lady Elaydrin d'Cannith was able to fill us in on that.  Apparently a map of sorts exists at Rose Quarry.  She was somehow aware of this and the Lady was attempting to send a small band of of mercenaries to Whitehearth to recover some schema apparently lost there."

"Which mercenaries?  The adventurers that recovered the first schema?"

"The very ones M'Lord."

"Remind me what happened at the Broken Anvil."

Cedric paused.  This man never forgot.  What was he about?  "The team we hired tracked Elaydren to the Broken Anvil and confronted her there.  They were nearly interrupted by a band of Warforged that seemed to have some grudge against the adventurers.  The adventurers were overwhelmed and Lady d'Cannith was captured."

"What is known about these Warforged?"

"Very little, sir.  They left Sharn the next day bound for Rhukaan Draal."

The man stiffened at the window.

"What is the disposition of the adventurers?"

"Of four, two succumbed to their wounds, one is still recovering at the House Jorasco compound, and the last is staying somewhere in High Walls."

Turning from the window, the man moved to lean two fists on the desk.  "I should very much like to meet those two.  Tonight."